I just ran out and checked the temp of my alternator side vs the clutch side (after 45 minutes of shutdown) - the alternator side was considerbly warmer than the clutch side. So I would say it was normal. Since the exhaust pipe is so damn close that might have somthing to do with it. I am thinking of wrapping the exhaust pipe with some of that tape that the hotrodders use.

I don't know about that. I saw the stator of a 2008 F800 (the Street one) at the bmw shop, it was pretty dark but the technician told me it was OK. What I would consider is installing some kind of voltage sensor to alert you when it suddenly dies, so that gives you a few hours ride to reach a shop or a safe area somewhere before you are completely stranded when the battery dies... I will do that.
Someone on this forum suggested this one http://signaldynamics.com/index.php?...hk=1&Itemid=77 , any other options?

I've been thinking about this one. Reading this thread has me thinking about it more.Argus BB-SBM12-PS Battery Bug Battery Monitor for Motorcycles and Power Sports

What I would consider is installing some kind of voltage sensor to alert you when it suddenly dies, so that gives you a few hours ride to reach a shop or a safe area somewhere before you are completely stranded when the battery dies... I will do that.

I'm following this thread with interest, as my rides often take me to remote locations where a charging system failure would be highly problematic. I keep an eye on my battery voltage.

I have a Garmin 276c plugged into the GPS power plug near the battery and have configured 2 things on this unit.
1. one of the fields displays the voltage
2. one of the alarms is set to alert me to voltage falling below 12V

Normally I glance down while riding and see 13.7V +/- 0.1V regardless of the electrical loads I typically use. Occasionally, 2 or 3 times/day, I will notice a low voltage alarm and see a voltage of around 10V lasting for a second or two. Since I'm using CAN-bus supplied power from that plug, I've been wondering if this brief voltage drop is just part of the normal operation of the bike. It's not just turning off the power, since that would show the GPS internal battery which is around 7V.

Anyway, I thought I'd mention the GPS display and alarm capabilities in case others here have a Garmin hard-wired to their bike.
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dbh

I'm following this thread with interest, as my rides often take me to remote locations where a charging system failure would be highly problematic. I keep an eye on my battery voltage.

I have a Garmin 276c plugged into the GPS power plug near the battery and have configured 2 things on this unit.
1. one of the fields displays the voltage
2. one of the alarms is set to alert me to voltage falling below 12V

Normally I glance down while riding and see 13.7V +/- 0.1V regardless of the electrical loads I typically use. Occasionally, 2 or 3 times/day, I will notice a low voltage alarm and see a voltage of around 10V lasting for a second or two. Since I'm using CAN-bus supplied power from that plug, I've been wondering if this brief voltage drop is just part of the normal operation of the bike. It's not just turning off the power, since that would show the GPS internal battery which is around 7V.

Anyway, I thought I'd mention the GPS display and alarm capabilities in case others here have a Garmin hard-wired to their bike.
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dbh

I wonder if this is available on the 60Csx? Just got one & waiting for it to arrive. Plan to hardwire it direct to the battery. Would be cool if it doubles as a battery monitor.

I also have been wondering if the failures are related to running extra accessories and how they are wired. I just can't see how if the alternator fails during warranty period it isn't covered

Could it be your radiator cooling fan kicking?
That would probably temporarily drop the voltage down to that range as it came up to speed...

Totally agree. When I had the single light one noted above and would ride with the riding lights around town at a light, the fan would kick on and it would turn yellow or even red (discharging state) for a few moments. I'd click off the running lights and it would go to yellow and back to green really quickly.

Could it be your radiator cooling fan kicking?
That would probably temporarily drop the voltage down to that range as it came up to speed...

That certainly fits with the symptoms and is something easily tested by toggling the fan and watching the voltage.
However, when I noticed it on the road, I was riding at highway speeds on a relatively cool day and I would be surprised if the fan kicked on at all since even idling on a hot day takes several minutes to activate the fan.

Now the geek side of me wants to put a little indicator lamp on the fan circuit.
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dbh

A klutzy question - do the stock instruments give any warning or indication that the electrical power generation system has suddenly "gone fishing"? Or do you simply find out, a few hours later, when the flat battery shuts everything down?

Can this be a cooling problem? Since the stator seems to "burn", for me it indicates that heat dissipation is not adequate. Then that falls down to oil cooler and oil quality. If the cooler and/or alternator cover is cover by s*hit, cooling will suffer heavily. If the cooling capacity is designed to clean surfaces then - according to idea of dual purpose bike - there is a huge design flaw.

Yet, this can be also a poor quality of stock alternator workmanship - you know - the cheapest offer syndrome i.e. designed and manufactured by economist.

A was about to install a carbon protector on the alternator cover (since it was close to crack on one hit) but reading this topic gave me a second thought. Well, if a put some heat transfer paste between the cover and "cover"...

For me this sounds like I'm about to install toothbrush as a standard equipment on my bike and clean oil cooler after every trail or dirt ride. You know, BMW should place toothbrush to tools under the seat to clean the oil cooler daily...

the only good news, I haven' been caught off guard this time!!.
I was indeed in the middle of nowhere when the Voltage monitoring Led I had installed started to go from green to flashing yellow and flashing red.
I disconnected the headlamp, turned around and rode 100 and some km to the nearest city where the computer went blank right in front of a garage...

Right now handed the stator to the guy who did the rebuilt this morning and he told me he'll investigate what happened.